Cycling the grand canal

tnegun

Nothing obvious at the Lucan end anyway.

Seth Brundle

I don't think they've turned a sod on the section at all.

Sammy96

Is the Canal still really dangerous by Clondalkin? Heard some awful stories of attacks couple of years back

I have to cycle out towards Casement at few days the next few weeks and obviously want to avoid the N7.

I have a nice bike.

DaveyDave

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119208797#Comment_119208797

Kids are off for Summer holidays so there will probably be some shenanigans. Haven't heard of any serious trouble in recent months. I've been down the canal from Lucan to Kylemore several times in the last few months and there was next to no shady characters, at least between 10-4.

Sammy96

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119209303#Comment_119209303

Thanks might chance it so.

FinnC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119198245#Comment_119198245

I walked it about a month ago and there is no sign of construction at all.

tnegun

I've been cycling it between 8am-9am and 5-6pm between Parkwest and Lucan for the last few months and the bad element is mostly missing. In fact, it's much better than pre covid whatever happened to them! I've only seen one scooter and a couple of horses but no issues since March. From Parkwest to Lucan there are more people around now on ebikes and eclectric scooters that weren't there before which might have something to do with it!

Seth Brundle

The drug house is closed up also which probably makes a big difference.

Gerry

Good to hear. I will give it a shot on the morning commute next week then. still dubious of the evening.

CapnHex

Cycled from Athy to Milford on the Grand Canal/Barrow Way. 27km of mainly grassy towpath. I was on a 90s Mountain bike with 26x1.95 tyres. Surface was okay, some parts a little rough. Nice spin and looking forward to doing more of the Barrow Way.

JazzyJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119210543#Comment_119210543

Yep - have done it a couple of times the last few weeks - nothing happening there. Its fairly rough with dried out ruts making it bumpy ride.

Gerry

Its interesting to hear about sallins planned for July, I tried ardclough to sallins a few weeks back on the road bike and theres nothing done. a little tricky, probably would recommend a mountain bike. It was a lot of fun though.

Roadtoad

From Edenderry to Daingean today. I got quite annoyed with the number of gates built. By all means have sets say 20m East and West of all road junctions to keep horses, motorcycles etc out, but a second pair tight to the tow path under each bridge was uncalled for. Such traffic calming on the long level is a bit ott. Further construction should revisit this build pattern.

They do read this thread, right?

Grassey

You'd wonder if the council was called out would they do anything about it.

SDCC got in trouble for the gates installed on the dodder greenaway as they were not suitable for access for all. So they are all being removed in the coming weeks.

Mercian Pro

As a Northsider, I'm a lot more familiar with the Royal Canal as I cycle and walk sections of it fairly frequently. The Grand has been a bit of a mystery so I decided I would explore some of the nearer wilder sections on the bike last Monday. I started from just beyond Adamstown on the R120 and headed west to Robertstown. I knew a gravel bike would be more suitable but, in the absence of same, relied on my Cannondale Synapse with 28mm tyres.

The first 4.5km to Hazelhatch was certainly wild and a good test of the Synapse's flexibility and my concentration. After a longish dry period, the surface was rock hard with a narrow bumpy clay strip running through the grass. Keeping up any kind of decent average was hard on the body and the bike. The next 6.5km to Ponsonby Bridge beyond Ardclough was the other extreme being either compacted grit or tarmac with the slight disadvantage of sharing the narrow road with the odd car or two. 6km of relatively flat clay and grass brought me to Sallins and a very welcome coffee and scone. I was able to average about 20km/h on this without too much bouncing around. The next 4km to Digby Bridge was paved but but with plenty of potholes from what I remember before a km of clay to Landenstown, another km of roadway with the final 5km or so to Robertstown being relatively smooth clay and grass.

A few observations:

• with the exception of the first stretch to Hazelhatch, 28mm tyres were fine but only because of the effects of the dry spell. I would imagine it would be a verry different story when wet.
• a number of the gates/barriers were worse than any on the Royal and I had to lift the bike over a few.
• the considerable growth along the verge meant that the canal couldn't actually be seen on some of the stretches.
• along most of the 29km the towpath seemed relativey wide with plenty of space for a paved cyclepath.
• there was no sign anywhere of any works being carried out on this section.
• the 17km to Sallins took about an hour (with photo-stops) and the remaining 12km to Robertstown another 40mins.

De Bhál

I was down it recently, still not clear on many bridges which side you should be on as you progress

FinnC

It’s disappointing that they haven’t even looked like starting the 12th lock to Hazelhatch Section.I understood it was to be finished by the end of the summer this year. I wonder what the hold up is.

cletus

Went for a bit of a spin along the Barrow way today, partly to see what progress there is.

First, there's a sign up at Rathangan listing out each of the Kildare sections

Next, the section from Umeras bridge has been started, but it's only a couple hundred metres of the hardcore base

It very quickly turns back to this

The section from Monasterevin to half way Fisherstown bridge is open from the Monasterevin side, but the barrier is still up where the Bolnagree road meets. It also doesn't have a top dressing yet.

I took no photos here, as I had a puncture at this stage, and had to walk the bike back to the main road at Monasterevin

Gerry

Not sure if there's a separate thread on this but I commuted using the grand canal yesterday.

adamstown to city centre in the morning.

I only did this as I met a neighbour of mine on the way in who said it was much improved in the morning.

and it was fine. still in the evening I felt a lot more apprehensive. lots of vaguely dodgy folk around on ebikes and scooters. There were 2 guards patrolling on bikes which was welcome.. I'm still not sure if I'd use it regularly in the evening especially as the light fades

Roadtoad

From Daingean to Tullamore today, warm, flat and sunny. There's a huge amount of it has road-bike friendly surfaces on both sides of the canal, albeit mixing with (non existing) car traffic on one side.

Question 1: How road-bike friendly is the stretch from Tullamore through Pullagh to Shannon Harbour?

Question 2: Is there anything worth seeing on the Kilbeggin branch (dry/disused). What size tyres are required?

cletus

Quick update on the Barrow Way sections near me.

The section from Umeras bridge to McCartney's bridge has the sub base laid about halfway, and then it's grass (muck) to McCartney's.

From McCartney's to Shepard's brook bridge (or the High bridge, if you're local) looks to have top dressing in place and ready to be opened, but it's still fenced off both ends.

JimmiesRustled

Entrance to the sallins portion of the canal are closed for works. There's a way in and out passed some of the cabins but I'd try not to enter during working hours as there's heavy machinery in operation.

The first section from sallins to just before ardclough is a bit of a mud bath at the minute. From there to hazelhatch is fine. Hazelhatch to adamstown is less mucky than sallins to ardclough but pretty slippy with mud all over the little rocks. Adamstown to dolphins barn is all paved.

The above is what you'll see as you enter into the canal and have passed the construction section of works.

FinnC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119872863#Comment_119872863

Have they actually started the Lucan to Sallins route? Is this the start of it above from the Sallins end?

Idleater

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119872863#Comment_119872863

Some of those tracks are mine from yesterday.

As I went through I was wondering how it would be during "working hours". I don't remember seeing a "closed" sign as I went through the gate. Though there was someone parked across it 🙄

tnegun

I saw some signs up for this closure today https://afloat.ie/inland/inland-waterways/item/56905-grand-canal-greenway-closure-between-locks-8-and-9-for-services-works anyone know what the services are or more importantly what the detour route is?

tnegun

Signs and fencing were put up today but the path was still accessible I guess it will be closed properly in the next few days. There was no sign of the traffic management plan or diversion route though.

tnegun

The towpath is completely closed between Parkwest/Fox and Geese and the 9th lock in Clondalkin. There are no diversion signs to follow or any attempt to accommodate canal users part of the footpath on the Nagor road was also closed today with no safe crossing. I pity someone not familiar with the area too it would be easy enough to get lost trying to find your way back to the canal depending on which way you turn at either closure.

Gerry

Yep agreed. came across this on Thursday. What I did was went left at killeen road, and back onto the canal there.

But overall I'll be giving this route a miss for the next while.

tnegun

It's a disaster heading outbound this evening the layout and traffic on the Nangor road makes it difficult/dangerous to try to turn right on 9th lock road to rejoin the canal. The footpath on the canal side of the Nangor road is actually closed as part of these works for the same distance again with little signage or accommodation for displaced users. So much for promoting active travel this is a key artery into the city and a large section has been closed with zero regards for its users.

Gerry

Agreed - who is the responsible body here? OPW? DCC?

It looks like the usage of this route for commuting is just not factored in..

tnegun

I submitted a complaint on the Waterways Ireland page but got no reply. I also mentioned the amount of leaves on the path that should be removed as its very bad in places. The junction with the 9th lock road is particularly bad insult to injury they cleaned the closed section a week or so ago!

Gerry

agreed it isnt safe if a bike has to swerve. the leaves are quite slippy.

Ill send in a complaint myself

cletus

https://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/home/981967/breaking-grand-canal-towpath-from-sallins-to-naas-golf-club-closed-to-traffic-until-september-2023.html

Seems like kind of a long time for the distance involved, but progress is progress

tnegun

Are they completing/working towards Dublin?

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119968845#Comment_119968845

I presume the plan to to complete as far as the border, but according to the article above, your looking at 9 months to go, best case 1.6 miles, worst case ⅔ of a mile.

Even if there was a mistake in the article, and they're going to Killeen golf course, not Naas golf course, that's probably still just shy of 3 miles, although it would make more sense (there's a bridge with exits from the canal path to the road)

cletus

Barrow line, section from McCartney's bridge to Monasterevin has finally opened. That just leaves Umeras bridge to McCartney's bridge to be completed, and you'll be able to go from Robertstown to at least Vicarstown Vis the Greenway (not sure if there's sections between there and Athy to be completed)

nilhg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119988946#Comment_119988946

Vicarstown to Milltown bridge is done, work has commenced on the final few kms from Milltown bridge to Athy

Thargor

Not my pic but I would have loved to have done this again in the recent cold snap if I hadnt been stuck in work and dying of that chest thing everyone has atm:

MojoMaker

Which lock # is that?

Super pic.

Jnealon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120028964#Comment_120028964

Google says "A frosty winter’s morning at Boland’s Lock on the Grand Canal in Tullamore"

tnegun

Signs up again this week that the Greenway will be closed between the 8th and 9th locks at Clondalkin from 03/01 to 03/02. The repairs from the closure earlier this month are poor and I'm hoping they're only temporary.

Roadtoad

It one lock east of Tullamore.

Roadtoad

The house, (Boland Lock) is for sale presently, so you can have a gawk if you want

Grassey

The last 0.7km from Sallins to Digby Bridge is gated off while repairs to the old overflow (The four pots) are being done.

You can squeeze past the gate, but the ground is churned up and very boggy from the machinery driving up/down to the pots from digby bridge.

It's probably too optimistic that the surface will be repaired and a solid surface put down afterwards to complete that section... only thing I could spot online was money awarded for the greenway feesability route along there there from Sallins Bridge -Clonkeen... so I'll guess it'll just be left in bits

However, it is great to see this feature being restored along the route.

getoutadodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120040052#Comment_120040052

What are (was) their function .ie. "the four pots"

getoutadodge

No need...just saw your link. Txs!

tnegun

The Greenway is closed again between Parkwest and the 9th lock until the 3rd of Feb. I stopped to ask the guy directing people off the canal directions to get back on to the canal and he couldn't say as he doesn't know the area but gave me directions that would have put me Clondalkin village when I was city bound!

blueandgreen

Has anyone tried cycling the Grand Canal on an electric cargo bike? We'd like to go from Dublin to Tullamore and back.

Seth Brundle

I recently posted this by mistake in the Royal Canal thread...

Meant to add this recently: I took a walk alongside canal beteeen Digby Br and Sallins with Mrs. Brundle and took this photo of the repairs to the Four Pots...

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120238773#Comment_120238773

I guess that it will depend on how heavy the bike is and the tyre width.

There are some sections along the canal that might be unpassable based on these factors - Adamstown to Hazelhatch, Ponsomby Bridge to Sallins, Cock Br to Downings Br (or even Robertstown)...